New Delhi NDLS Railway Station

The New Delhi railway station is the primary railway station in the capital of India. It was opened in 1926 and officially inaugurated in 1956. The New Delhi railway station is located in Central Delhi, just a couple of kilometers from Connaught Place. You can access the railway station from Paharganj via platform 1, or from the Ajmeri Gate side via platform 16.

The history of the NDLS station can be traced back to 1926, when the East Indian Railway Company sanctioned the construction of a single platform between Ajmeri Gate and Paharganj. Later, by 1955, a new building was constructed to accommodate more routes. The station was also the first in India to have common facilities for passengers traveling via trains in the New Delhi railway station.

According to the categorization of Indian Railway stations by commercial importance, the New Delhi station belongs to the NSG-1 category. This means that the station earns over Rs. 500 Crore and handles more than 20 million passengers per year. The station has also held the record for the largest route relay interlocking system worldwide since 1999. In terms of cleanliness, the station earned the 165th position of the 720 stations in India, and the 11th position among the 21 stations in the NSG-1 category.

The key highlights of the New Delhi city railway station are listed below.

• Number of platforms: 16 platforms
• Number of gates: 2 (Paharganj and Ajmer Gate)
• Number of tracks: 18 tracks
• Vehicle parking details: Premium parking for cars at Rs. 100 for first two hours and Rs. 100 per hour for every additional hour. General parking for cars at Rs. 50 for the first two hours, Rs. 100 for the next four hours, Rs. 150 for the next six hours and Rs. 200 up to 24 hours
• Busiest times: Busy 24x7
• Distance from Indira Gandhi International Airport: 15 kilometers (approx.)
• Amenities in the NDLS station: Round-the-clock food court with national and international food and beverage brands, Two executive New Delhi railway station lounges, Waiting rooms, Escalators on each platform, Water vending machines, WiFi connectivity, Energy-saving lighting, CCTV cameras.

The reservation counter at the New Delhi railway station is located within the station’s main campus itself. However, it is located in a different building. Once you exit the station from platform 1 on the Paharganj side, you will find the reservation office, from where you can book your tickets.

However, if you want to book your train tickets to or from the New Delhi station more conveniently, you can choose redRail by redBus — an online train ticket booking platform that is an IRCTC-authorized partner. You can use redRail by redBus to book your train tickets to or from the New Delhi railway station on the website or the mobile app. All you need to do is enter the origin, destination and preferred date of travel. You can then explore the various trains along that route, select your preferred train and book your tickets online instantly.

The New Delhi city railway station is extremely well-connected. You can reach the station via any of the following modes of transport:

• Bus
• Suburban rail
• Auto
• Taxi
• Cab
• Delhi Metro

In 2010, the railway station was redeveloped and the new station building on the Ajmeri Gate side was upgraded. It was as a part of this redevelopment that the New Delhi station was also integrated with the Delhi Metro network.

The Ajmeri Gate side of the New Delhi city railway station is now connected to the Delhi Metro by a 242-meter skywalk. So, you can easily reach the NDLS station via the Yellow Line and the Orange Line of the Delhi Metro. All you need to do is check the New Delhi metro station opening time and closing time, and plan your commute accordingly.

If you find the suburban rail more convenient, you can also opt to take the local train from New Delhi railway station to your home or your place of residence when you are in the city.

There are many restaurants in and around New Delhi station. You can stop by at any of these places for a quick bite before you board your train or after you have arrived in the city. Check out some of the top restaurants that are near the New Delhi railway station.

• Delhi Ka Tadka

Distance from New Delhi Railway Station: 290 meters

Top Rated Dish: Chole bhature

Cuisine: Multicuisine

Price Range: Rs. 600 per person

• Karan South Restaurant

Distance from New Delhi Railway Station: 350 meters

Top Rated Dish: Masala dosa

Cuisine: South Indian

Price Range: Rs. 150 per person

• Pehalwan Da Hotel - Estd :1948

Distance from New Delhi Railway Station: 1.5 kilometers

Top Rated Dish: Mutton curry

Cuisine: North Indian or Dhaba-style cuisine

Price Range: Rs. 200 per person

• Burger King

Distance from New Delhi Railway Station: 2.3 kilometers

Top Rated Dish: Burger meal

Cuisine: Fast food

Price Range: Rs. 200 per person

• The Square Meal

Distance from New Delhi Railway Station: 3 kilometers

Top Rated Dish: Thali meals

Cuisine: Multicuisine

Price Range: Rs. 600 per person

Whether you’re in the city for a vacation or on business, you may want to stay near the New Delhi train station. If that’s the case, there are many stay options that you can consider. Here is a closer look at some of the top hotels to stay at near the NDLS station.

• Hotel Pink City

Approximate Distance: 400 meters

Price Range: Moderate

• Hotel Gold Regency

Approximate Distance: 400 meters

Price Range: Moderate

• Hotel Ritz

Approximate Distance: 450 meters

Price Range: Moderate to Premium

• Trimrooms Palm D'or

Approximate Distance: 700 meters

Price Range: Moderate to Premium

• Hotel Golden Oasis Delhi

Approximate Distance: 1 kilometer

Price Range: Moderate

There are several bus stands near the New Delhi railway station. Here is a list of some of the bus stops and bus depots closes to the NDLS station:

• New Delhi Railway Station Gate No. 1 bus stop: 300 meters
• New Delhi Railway Station Flyover bus stop: 650 meters
• Paharganj Dispensary bus stop: 650 meters

You can also take a cab or a taxi to commute from the New Delhi city railway station to other parts of the city. Here is a list of some taxi stands that are near the railway station.

• Prepaid Taxi/Auto(Govt.): 73 meters
• Tourist Taxi India: 400 meters

The New Delhi railway station is also well-connected to various private and public hospitals. In case of any emergency, you can find many hospitals and clinics within a 5-kilometer radius from the New Delhi train station. Here is a list of some of the hospitals nearest to the New Delhi station.

• Rajdhani Hospital

Approximate Distance: 1.1 kilometers

• Northern Railway Central Hospital

Approximate Distance: 1.9 kilometers

• Mrs. Girdhar Lal Maternity Hospital

Approximate Distance: 2.5 kilometers

• Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital

Approximate Distance: 4.2 kilometers

• Kasturba Hospital

Approximate Distance: 6.7 kilometers

If you are stopping by in the city for a short while, you can relax in the New Delhi railway station lounge. Alternatively, you can also take a short tour of the places of interest near the NDLS station. Here is a list of some such places you can visit near the railway station.

Jama Masjid

It was built by Emperor Shah Jahan between 1650 and 1656. The masjid is a splendid example of Mughal architecture. It also features a collection of rare relics of Prophet Muhammad.

Feroz Shah Kotla Fort

This fortress was built by King Feroz Shah Tughlaq, a cousin and successor of the infamous Muhammad bin Tughluq. Additionally, it houses a sandstone Ashokan pillar from Topra that dictates the Edicts of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka.

Shankar's International Dolls Museum

A collection of more than 6,500 dolls from all over the world are housed in this museum. It was set up by the renowned political cartoonist K. Shankar Pillai. The museum is located within the Children's Book Trust on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg.

Jantar Mantar

It has a set of 13 architectural astronomy instruments situated around 2.9 km away from the New Delhi railway station. The site is one of the five observatories built in the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur.

Museum of Illusions New Delhi

The Museum of Illusions in Connaught Place is India's first optical illusion museum. The museum features a lot of fun holograms and other reality-distorting chambers and mechanics. The Smart Shop within it supplies many interesting games, souvenirs, puzzles and small optical illusions.